Monrovia Public Works Director Out - Is It About Halloween Costumes?

Public Works Director Carl Hassel is no longer working for Monrovia.

Yesterday I got an email from an anonymous and quite upset person who said he (or she - I don't know which) is a city employee. This person said Hassel has been let go because he "did not encourage Public Works Staff to compete in the City staff Halloween Costume Contest".

This is a personnel issue and by law the city is very limited in what it can say, but still I checked and confirmed that Hassel is no longer working for the city and Community Services Director Tina Cherry is now, as my anonymous source said, the acting public works director.

Here is what Human Resources and Risk Management Division Manager Danielle Tellez wrote back:

Mr. Hassel is no longer employed by the City of Monrovia as the Public Works Director effective Monday, December 8, 2014.

Ms. Tina Cherry was appointed to an interim position of Acting Public Works Director effective Tuesday, December 9, 2014. In the interim, all public works projects are proceeding without interruption. There will be no disruption in public services.

City staff was notified first thing the morning of Tuesday, December 9, 2014 of the staffing change. As you acknowledged below [in my email], this is a personnel matter and the City cannot comment on the reasons for separation.

UPDATE: City Manager Oliver Chi denies that a Halloween party had anything to do with it: http://goo.gl/Tvbytt

- Brad Haugaard

Gold Line Construction Authority Now Testing Track

The test train that rolled in to Monrovia yesterday will continue on today from California Avenue in Monrovia to the San Gabriel River Bridge in Irwindale.

Over the next two weeks, the test train will be used to test clearances at stations and with the Overhead Catenary System (OCS), wheel/rail interface, rail switches, and more. This phase of testing will also include live wire testing of the OCS system within the segment of the line where power is now energized.

"This is just the beginning of several months of testing ahead that will ultimately test every aspect of the light rail line and its safety and communications systems," said Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority CEO Habib Balian. "We will continue testing from now until substantial completion next September, when we will be turning the line over to Metro for pre-revenue service."

Source: press release

- Brad Haugaard

100% Chance of Rain | Robot Competition at Monrovia High | Brush Clearing Scam

~ Rain coming! 20% chance on Thursday; 100% chance of heavy rain on Friday; 20% chance on Saturday: http://goo.gl/12GO8M

Also, From National Weather Service: 2 to 4 inches across the Foothills and mountains between Thursday and Friday night. "Since this storm system has the potential for greater dynamics and instability...as compared to last week's system...rainfall rates around one half inch per hour will be possible with the front." Also, "Isolated thunderstorms...potentially producing localized rainfall rates in excess of one half inch per hour. Rainfall rates of this intensity could bring a threat of flash flooding along with mud and debris flows in and near recent burn areas. http://goo.gl/mlnquf

~ Robot competition at Monrovia High. http://goo.gl/vKZkJG

~ If a company comes to your door saying it is working on behalf of the Monrovia Fire Department to clear brush around your house, that's not true. Details: http://goo.gl/BMZE5Q

- Brad Haugaard

First Train Comes into Monrovia on Gold Line Tracks

Gold Line CEO Habib Balian reports:

"At dawn, a light rail vehicle from Metro’s fleet entered into the Foothill Gold Line project jurisdiction for the first time. The vehicle, a $4 million AnsaldoBreda P2250 weighing over 100,000 pounds, was outfitted with specialized gear to test clearances, wheel/rail interface, rail switches, and the Overhead Catenary System. The testing will take place over the next two weeks between Arcadia and Irwindale and include live wire testing between California Ave in Monrovia and the San Gabriel River Bridge in Irwindale, where power is now energized."

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Door-Busting Burglary; Victim Recovers Stolen Bike; Fake ID; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for December 4-7. - Brad Haugaard]

Following are the weekend’s highlighted issues and events.

Residential Burglary – Suspect Arrested
December 4 at 6:30 a.m., officers responded to a residence in the 400 block of West Duarte Road on the report of a burglary in progress. The suspect forced entry into the victim's home by kicking the front door open. The victim locked his bedroom door and went out to his balcony, where he immediately called the police from his cell phone. The suspect then kicked open the bedroom door and entered the bedroom closet to search through it, as the victim watched through the sliding glass door. Officers arrived and found the suspect in the victim's kitchen. The suspect was arrested for burglary and taken into custody.

Traffic Collision
December 4 at 11:59 p.m., a traffic collision was reported in the 400 block of South Magnolia. A driver crashed into a parked car and then fled the scene. The driver was found several blocks away and taken to a hospital for treatment. A blood sample was drawn to support a DUI investigation. No arrests were made pending the results of the blood test.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
December 5 at 8:15 a.m., an officer was on patrol in the 400 block of West Duarte Road when he observed a male subject he knew had an outstanding warrant for his arrest. A warrant check confirmed the subject had a $50,000.00 warrant for his arrest. The officer contacted the subject, confirmed the warrant and the subject was arrested.

Commercial Burglary – Suspect Arrested
December 6 at 2:47 p.m., a business in the 600 block of West Huntington called police to report a male subject attempting to make a purchase using a fake California driver's license with one of their customer's names on it. Officers arrived and detained the suspect. He was positively identified by his true California driver's license. The suspect was arrested for fraud and commercial burglary.

Grand Theft
December 8 at 3:30 a.m., a resident in the 100 block of Oaks called police to report a grand theft. The resident woke to a loud noise coming from outside his residence. He went outside and found his garage door open. He looked in and saw his mountain bike was missing. He ran down his driveway and saw a male suspect riding away on his bike. The victim went after the suspect in his vehicle. The suspect saw he was being chased, jumped off the bike and fled through side yards. The victim recovered his property, returned home and called police. Officers responded and searched the area on foot and by vehicle, but the suspect was not located.

Citrus College Fined for Violating Student's Free Speech

Citrus College, which serves Monrovia, will have to pay $110,000 to a student for violating his First Amendment right to free speech by telling him he could not collect signatures outside of the college's designated "free speech" zone. This is the second time Citrus has lost a free-speech zone lawsuit. The previous time it had to pay $24,500. http://goo.gl/1EH51K

Comment: Twice, Citrus? Are citizens' constitutional rights so dangerous that you are willing to repeatedly pay fines to restrict them?

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Schools: New Stagecraft Class; Finances Okay

At its Dec. 10 meeting (agenda: http://goo.gl/zvf8qA ) the Monrovia School Board will, among other things, consider ...

- offering a course in Stagecraft and Design to high school students. http://goo.gl/mp6z4X

- certifying, according to state law, that the district can meet its financial obligations for the current year and following two years. And, yup, the staff report says it can. http://goo.gl/7YJldA

- Brad Haugaard

French Market Saturday

Dec. 6, the Monrovia French Market's Winter Wonderland Holiday Show - nearly 50 specialty vendors. 122 S. California Ave. http://goo.gl/rN3sBX

21 Bistro Being Acquired by Mooncat

Apparently the little restaurant, 21 Bistro, on the south side of Lime just east of Myrtle, is being acquired by the Japanese restaurant, Mooncat, which is right next-door. This sign is in the window. Comment: Too bad, I always liked 21 Bistro.

- Brad Haugaard

Lunch at Mooncat

Lunch at Mooncat, south side of Lime just east of Myrtle. Japanese food. Got the sushi and tempura bento box ($12) and an iced oolong tea ($3.50). Came with miso soup and rice. Very nice. 

- Brad Haugaard

Ridgeside Entrance to Monrovia Hillside Preserve Reopened

The Ridgeside Drive entry point to the Monrovia Hillside Wilderness Preserve, which was locked briefly, has been reopened.

Opinion: Thank you very much to Director of Community Services Tina Cherry, City Manager Oliver Chi and anybody else who was involved in reconsidering this decision (which I fussed about here: http://goo.gl/jZf1b2 ).

- Brad Haugaard 

Roof Added to Historic Monrovia Fountain

The roof has just been replaced on the historic drinking fountain that had to be rebuilt after a car accident destroyed it. The fountain is at the southeast corner of Library Park. The roof tiles, however, still need to be replaced. 

Jim Wigton, of the Monrovia Historic Preservation Group, writes: "The replacement Spanish tiles have not yet been delivered to Public Works (we are getting them from Architectural Detail in Pasadena)..  When they are, we will be re-installing them on the roof so that the fountain will look almost exactly the same as before the accident."

 

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Christmas Parade

Nice crowd tonight at the Monrovia Christmas parade.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Lights Its Christmas Tree

After a song by Centre Stage students about wanting a hippopotamus for Christmas, and opening remarks by Mayor Mary Ann Lutz, children from the Canyon Early Learning Center lit the Monrovia Christmas tree in Library Park. 

- Brad Haugaard

Santa's Monrovia Schedule

This year, Monrovia will continue its tradition of celebrating the Christmas season by touring Santa Claus around city streets on top of a fire engine.  Escorted by a police car and a decorated public works sleigh, Santa will provide candy canes to the public.  City employees will, again, volunteer their time to help make the program fun and successful.

Last year’s event was a great success!  This year’s Santa Tour will be another exciting and fun time for members of our community when they see Santa visiting their neighborhoods.  Everyone is encouraged to come out and wave to Santa.

Monday, Dec. 15 – will tour city streets south of Huntington, west of Myrtle to Fifth, north of southern city boundaries.

Tuesday, Dec. 16 – will tour city streets east of Myrtle, north of Foothill.

Wednesday, Dec. 17 – will tour city streets west of Myrtle, north of Foothill. 

Thursday, Dec. 18 – will tour city streets east of Myrtle, south of Foothill, north of Duarte Road, west of east city boundaries.

Friday, Dec. 19 – will tour city streets west of Myrtle, south of Foothill, north of Huntington to Mayflower, between Myrtle and Fifth.

Assembly Time: 5:00 p.m. assembly at the City Hall parking lot, 415 S. Ivy, Monrovia, CA  91016

Tour Hours:   5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

The police car will be driven by volunteer police officers who will lead the procession using their red lights and siren.  Christmas carols will be played over the police car’s P.A. system.  

The fire engine will be driven by volunteer firefighters, who will follow the police car.  Santa will ride on top of the fire engine with spotlights shining on him as he wishes everyone a merry Christmas.  The fire engine will be decorated with hundreds of Christmas lights.

The public works truck will be driven by volunteer public works employees.  Our reindeer sleigh, bright with over 1500 Christmas lights, will play Christmas carols.  Community members are welcome to ride with city employees and their families on back of the truck and trailer during the tour.  Space is limited and participation is first come first served.  Parents are reminded that children must be accompanied by an adult.

To all Monrovians:  Venture outside, welcome Santa, and enjoy his candy canes!  MERRY CHRISTMAS to all and have a safe holiday season. 

Source: Monrovia Police press release

- Brad Haugaard